Write the Truth On Your Heart

"Do not let kindness and truth leave you; bind them round your neck, write them on your tablet of your heart."- Proverbs 3:3
 
In today's society, the world's sentiment is one of non-judgment inclusiveness of all groups regardless of their behaviors. Unfortunately, this sentiment is permeating the Christian church as well. This is causing the church body to cower in fear when it comes to loving others instead of confronting someone with the truth. While it is true that we need to love others just as Jesus would, we are also called maintain the purity of the church. This is maintained through judgment. A judge in a court of law evaluates whether behavior is right or wrong based upon the law and assigns consequences based on the violation of that law. We as the church are also responsible to evaluate whether behavior is right or wrong based on the moral law, dictated by the Bible. We are called to judge; what we are not called to is condemn based on that behavior.
 
We need to allow our truth to be closely linked to kindness.
 
Condemnation is waving an accusatory finger, robbing people of the hope made possible by Christ's death on the cross. Condemnation is Satan's job; not the church's. Jesus eradicated condemnation through his sacrificial death and resurrection. Judgment identifies action as being right or wrong, but extends a hand and says, "This is wrong. What can I do to help you get through this?"
 
Judgment without kindness is condemnation. Judgment cloaked in kindness leads to salvation. 

---